CHAPTER 6: GOODBYES
Jack walked home under a heavy cloud of doubt. He had accepted Mathias' quest; yet he started to question its believability. Clarity had already begun eroding down his emotionally charged decision to accept it, and suspicion was rising like the tidal wave that had destroyed Atlantis. His logic wanted him to go home, and to forget the scar-faced man and his friends. Ignore their outrageous tale they had told him, and the enemy they warned him about—Kaelan. To wake up the next day and go to uni, and get on with his life.
Indecision racked his brain. Jack wanted to believe, he wanted something he could see beyond the dreams, which weren't merely apparitions. Unfortunately, he was shackled by the chains of reality, a reality he had known his entire life. A reality learned in books and lecture theaters, and from the world around him. Yes he had powers, and yes they were beyond the reality he was taught were possible; but they were tangible to him, they were real! Jack could summon them, and see their cause and effect. He became physically exhausted when he used too much of his powers, and therefore they had to be grounded in some form of science that had yet to be discovered. How could he accept fairy tales, myths and legends, which he deemed were not so? That were merely cultural references to primitive beliefs?
Jack's fear of leaving his family gave him another reason not to commit to the quest. They would worry about him, and think he had run away from home, or something far worse. Elly would call the police, and it would probably end up in the local paper. His face plastered on every streetlight and telephone pole in Willow. Jack couldn't do that to her.
Then again, his mind parried back, Mathias had told him that time was somehow eschewed, and that they could be away for a year and only a week would pass by in present time. His family wouldn't even know he was gone. He could simply say he was staying at Caleb's for a week. Caleb would agree to any outlandish ruse he concocted; his friend would find it devilishly fun.
Jack frowned. What if his mother called Caleb's house, or dropped by to visit him? How could his friend explain his absence? Elly knew Caleb's parents, and they would definitely not play along with such a ruse. It was too risky.
Also, he didn't know how much of this time traveling talk he believed. Was there tested proof? Had the Keepers—as they called themselves—already attempted a travel back to find the Crown before, and failed? And returning to present time, would there be another of himself waiting for him, sleeping in his own bed?
His mind was muddled.
Time travel was a heavy concept to get one's head around. Not to mention the concept of a crown that could harness pure psychic power from large crowds of people, allowing its wearer to perform unimaginable feats. Telekinesis with almost no limits.
Searching for this magical crown that could possibly level cities, in a world at war with each other, didn't sound like a stroll in the park. It didn't sound like his typical day of packing his siblings school lunches, before going to university. He had never been successful in a school yard fight, let alone taking on enemies with immense powers. The quest would be very risky, which could just as easily lead to his death.
Then what made him say yes? Was he caught up in the excitement? Was he put under a spell by these strange people?
No.
It was something deeper than that. Beneath his doubt was a small voice shouting at him. A voice trying to be heard over the noise of 'reason'. Trying to say he was doing the right thing. The voice was his conscious. His six sense. His intuition. His gut feeling. And it said that what Mathias spoke was truth.
The Atlantean had told him about his father and his heritage. Told him everything—well, a brief time line of events anyway, which were sufficient enough to fill in the gaping holes of his little-known life. A life that seemed so alien to him now he knew some of the missing pieces. Like he was being told about someone else' life.
Mathias also said he would leave someone to watch over his family. Someone he could trust. How could he trust someone he hadn't met? It was a small comfort in the overwhelming scheme of everything he was expected to do. Who was this person? Another Atlantean soldier?
Then Jack reflected on the mysterious giant's companions. The dark and mysterious Cloak, whose brooding demeanor and sharp tongue left no room for subtleties. Will, who was everything Jack wished he was: handsome, strong, and likable. Will and Cloak—light and darkness—were evidently opposite sides of the same coin. Both loyal to Mathias. Both subordinates with strengths and weaknesses that complimented each other to make a whole.
Again with his assumptions.
Then there was Layla. She was strong, and upfront in what she thought. Not afraid to take risks. And distractingly beautiful. Everything he wanted in a girl. However, he chased that fantasy away with his memory of Layla holding Will. There was a relationship between the two that he could not discern whether friendly or romantic. Either way, he had just met her, and Jack felt stupid for falling for a girl he hardly knew.
But those eyes... that smile...
Jack suddenly came out of his reverie, and realized he was home.
The front light was on, and a half-shadowed Rowan stood in the doorway.
“A bit late for a walk in the dark,” the young man said, teasingly, “Have you been serenading some girl at her bedroom window?”
“I wish.” Jack replied with a weak smile. His mind was still troubled by his unfinished debate with himself. “Is mum worried? What's for dinner?”
“Why so glum?” His half-brother jibed, ignoring his questions. “Did Cloak leave a bad impression. I'm sure, he didn't mean it. He's always playing the tough guy.”
Jack's eyes suddenly opened wide, and his jaw was hanging. “What?” he managed to say through shocked confusion. “How did you know?”
The older sibling patted Jack on the shoulder and winked. “I'm the one who will be guarding your little secret whilst you are away. I have already told mum you will be coming with Emily and I back to Paradise this weekend—tomorrow night—so you can experience the big smoke. She won't suspect a thing. I mean, you can trust me. I haven't told anyone about your powers either.”
The teenager continued to stare in disbelief. He couldn't even concentrate on the words tumbling effortlessly out of his half-brother's mouth. How did Rowan know about his powers? And how did he know who the mysterious stranger and his friends were?
“How do you know any of this?” he asked, pulling Rowan away from the light of the porch, down the steps and into the darker driveway. “My powers? I haven't told anyone—did James say something? Alora? But that doesn't explain how you know Mathias—”
“Let me start by saying,” Rowan said with a calm voice, “Take a deep breath and stop the questions for one minute.”
Jack obeyed. He deeply inhaled the cold night air; then exhaled, flushing out his sudden anxiousness.
“Now,” the other continued, trying not to smile too much, “I have always known.”
“How?” Jack whispered, his eyes still wide.
“I knew even before you discovered your powers.”
The teenager shook his head. “That's impossible. Only James—”
“James and Alora never told me anything. They are good at keeping secrets.” Rowan guided Jack back up the steps and onto the porch. They walked over to a dusty, old couch that lay abandoned in the corner. It had long lost its own support, like some drunken derelict, and now relied on the stability of the porch's rails to hold it up. When they sat on it, the springs groaned and squealed in a choir under their weight. “Like I said, I knew long before.”
Jack didn't know how to answer, so he waited for his half-brother to explain.
“I am lore-kin and so is Emily. I met Mathias many years ago before you were born. I came upon your father's old, secret house in the woods when I was very young. I was following him on my pushbike one morning, when he set out on his usual mysterious 'weekend camping trip' with his friend he called, Mat. Later I would find out Mat was short for Mathias.
“I had tri
ed following him many times before, or sneaking up on him when he was home, but for some reason your father always knew where I was. It was like he could hear my thoughts before I got close enough to surprise him. So I tried a few things to test this uncanny ability of his. That morning, I kept my distance, and I quietened my thoughts, which seemed to work. I let the sounds of the forest dominate my mind. Fill my head with images of the animals I imagined were making those sounds. I tried to become immersed in the environment around me, to become invisible, to hide my thoughts from Thomas by not thinking of him at all. It was hard, but I did it.
“Now when I think back on it, I find it amusing that a child could have figured out a way of outsmarting an ancient race of powerful people.
“Anyway, I finally, unintentionally, gave myself away when I stumbled across Mathias and Thomas discussing something about the rebel Atlanteans—” Jack found it odd hearing Rowan mention that race of people, but refrained from asking another question, “—and how they had uncovered an underwater graveyard of ancient Ramaean sky-ships. They both jumped out of their skin when I emerged from the bushes. At the time, I had no idea what they were talking about. And It wasn't their conversation that baffled me, it was them levitated above the ground that did it.”
“So they told you who they were?” Jack asked a little too loudly, then winced, and whispered, “Why didn't they try and erase your memory or something like that.”
“Thomas said I had the determination and smarts to become a lore-kin, and Mathias agreed. Said I would be valuable as a protector, to keep an eye out for my mother when Thomas was gone. Also, I believe he was planning in advance to have a protector for his own children he hoped to one day have with Elly as well.”
Jack thought back on all the times that Rowan had been there for him when he was much younger. Always standing up for him against bullies and always taking care of him when he hurt himself, or when he was sick and their mother was away. He thought his half-brother was being over-protective; but it now made perfect sense. It was his assigned job from Thomas, his father.
“But it was Mathias who personally trained me in Atlantean unarmed combat and sword-fighting,” Rowan continued. “He even gave me my first glaive when I was proficiently trained and old enough to wield one.”
“What is a glaive?” Jack asked.
“It is a hand-held weapon that can change the shape of its blade to the desired shape of the user's thoughts. They don't require innate psychic powers like you have, as the weapon itself is only triggered by thought. Very handy when you need to adapt to different fighting styles.”
Rowan shifted to find a comfortable spot on the dilapidated couch, then fixed a serious gaze on his sibling. “If I hadn't been trained from such a young age myself, hadn't known Mathias and learned from him like he was my own father, I don't think I would let you do it. I know this quest will be dangerous, Jack. I know there is a lot weighing on the success of destroying the Crown of Dreams. The fate of everyone, it would seem. But I have all the faith in the world that you can do it.”
Jack felt a hard lump in his throat, but swallowed it down. His past doubt was being abolished by family love.
“I feel it is right,” the teenager said, searching for the right words. “As ridiculous as it sounds, I know it is what I must do. I suppose, I was scared of saying goodbye to mum and the kids. I never wanted to say goodbye.”
Rowan embraced him then, and they were quiet for what felt like an eternity.
“A week in Paradise will be good for you,” Elly said, stirring the large pot of chicken curry, and tossing dashes of spices into its thick mix. She did not look up from her cooking. “I haven't let you leave the house for anywhere longer than a weekend at Caleb's. I think it will teach you some valuable lessons of being... independent.”
“Oh, mum,” Jack said, throwing his arms around her waist, and burying his face into her shoulder and neck. “The time will go by so fast, and I will be back before you know it.”
“No, no,” his mother raised a hand to shush his sympathy, “I don't want you to feel like you have to spare my feelings. You're not a prisoner here. The birds eventually leave the nest.”
“Its a week. Maybe even less, who knows.”
“Stay as long as you like, dear,” Elly said with a warm smile, and Jack knew she meant it. “I guess I'll miss having you around to help with all the chores; but James said he'll make the lunches in the morning, and Alora has started to do dishes on occasions. We'll handle.”
“I'm sure you'll be fine,” Jack laughed softly, and he rested his chin on his mother's head. “You've always been strong.”
Elly hugged him tightly.
When Jack looked towards the hallway, he saw James and Alora watching him with curious faces.
“I didn't know you were going to Paradise,” James said, his tone accusing. “When were you going to tell us?”
“Tonight,” Rowan's voice came from the door. They all turned to face the young man in the leather jacket. “Jack made a comment about wanting to see the universities in the bigger city. He thought it would give him a general idea for next year, if he decided he wanted to transfer studies.”
Elly, James and Alora were still aghast.
“But...” Rowan looked at Jack for support; but found none in a wide, amused smile, then said, “He really loves Willow. And really loves the uni . So, I suppose it is more of a sight seeing visit, really. Yeah...”
Jack laughed, Elly giggled; but James and Alora still kept frowning.
“What about us?” James said, angrily. “We want to visit Paradise. What about your promise, Rowan?”
The boy's half-brother walked over and pulled both his younger siblings close to him, ruffling their hair. “Hey, it is only for a week. Then when Jack is done, I'll choose another one of you guys.”
“Ooh! Can I go?” They both said in unison.
Rowan winked. “If you eat your vegetables, go to bed when mum says, and wish your brother Jack the best of luck, then and only then will I choose his successor.”
Both James and Alora rushed over to Jack with big grins. They barraged him with well-wishes.
“You mercenaries!” Jack laughed.
James said, trying to subdue his excitement by hopping from one foot to the other, “I really want to check out the game and music shops. They have so much more than Willow.”
“You'll get your chance,” Rowan replied, “And Emily can take Alora for the day.”
“Yeah, no boys!” Alora shouted, then exploded into giggles.
“Okay,” Elly said, restraining her daughter with a big hug, “But you and James have to set up the dinner for Jack's last night before he goes away for a week.”
Alora and James rushed to the cupboard and drawers for plates and cutlery as if they were running a marathon.
“You can sit this one out,” Rowan said to Jack and walked over to help the others prepare dinner.
Jack smiled softly, then decided to go to his room and think for a moment on the events that had transpired. The people he had met, and what they wanted him to do. The risks he was expected to take.
Making his way to the hallway, he suddenly stopped, and turned to watch his family work vigorously at preparing the food. At one moment, they had finished setting out the plates, and were all huddled around the table, laughing hysterically at something Rowan had said, which Jack didn't hear. His half-brother was simply shrugging and smiling cheekily at them. It was the first time in a long time he had seen tears of laughter in his mother's eyes.
Warm, orange light from an old, ornate lamp lit their faces, and the warmth of summer was heavy in the night air. The rich smell of pollen wafted through an open window.
This sentimental moment didn't last long, unfortunately.
Jack's vision was suddenly shrouded in a dense veil of mist. He felt a great distance grow between him and his family, and then noticed that they were being drawn away from him, disappearing into the grey. When he looked down, he
no longer saw a carpeted floor of the hallway, but a metal platform, built over the top of a enormous, glass sphere. He had dreamed of it earlier; it was one of the glass orbs of the statues known as the World Bearers.
His family were now only shades and faint cries in the far distance, being swallowed up by a swirling vortex of darkness.
Then he saw a mighty tidal wave rise up like a blue-green wall across the vast horizon, scattering the mist before his eyes. It moved quickly, rolling over the coastland towards him, crushing all in its wake.
Jack looked down at the city.
Atlantis!
Then the outer walls were hit by the wave...
People were screaming in the streets, but their voices were so far away, and were drowned out by a sky full of screeching sea-birds; the crumbling of their buildings and great statues; and the deep groan of the ocean's weight, heaving against the island city.
The teenager didn't know if this was one of his father's memories resurfacing; but he knew he was looking upon the Fall.
Before the wave reached the World Bearers, who held him high above water's reach, Jack saw that the buildings that were being absorbed by the water were not just from Atlantis, but Willow as well! The university he attended, Caleb and his local haunts, and all the places he cherished... destroyed.
This genetic-memory passed down to him, this premonition of what could come, suddenly flared like white fire in his mind, and the wave, the buildings and the World Bearers vanished into its brightness.
When Jack snapped back to reality, he was leaning against the hallway wall, staring wide-eyed at his preoccupied and oblivious family members.
The tragedy of the city's fall burnt into his mind forever.